Change where Photos stores your files

When you import photos and videos into Photos, they’re copied to and stored in the Photos library. If you prefer, you can store photos and videos outside the Photos library (for example, in a folder on your Mac or on an external drive) and still view them in Photos. Files stored outside your library are called referenced files. For more information about referenced files, see Where are my photos?

Referenced files aren’t automatically uploaded and stored in iCloud Photo Library, and they aren’t backed up along with the rest of your files when you back up your photo library—you must back them up manually. If you want to avoid manually backing up referenced files, you can move or consolidate the files into your library.